Safety belt buckle



1, 1950 o. H. GRXSWOLD 2,517,424

SAFETY BELT BUCKLE Filed April 18, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. OWE/v h! klawzua Aug-1, 1950 0, GRlsWOLD 2,517,424

SAFETY BELT BUCKLE Filed April 18, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IVNVENTORL OWzw/i filala'n oLo 247'7'0/P/VE ya ug- 1950 o. H. GRISWOLD 2,517,424

SAFETY BELT BUCKLE Filed April 18, 1947 3 Sheets-$heet 5 INVENTOR. OWE/V fi 61?]5 we; 0

Patented Aug. 1, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlce;

Owen H. Griswold, Santa Monica, Calif., assignor to Air Associates, Incorporated, Teterboro, N. J a corporation of New Jersey i Application April 18, 1947, Serial No. 742,270

6Claims. 1 i

This invention relates to safety belts worn by occupants of aircraft, speed boats and the like and the invention has particular reference to a buckle for securing the belt in coupled relation against accidental or unintentional uncoupling thereof to thereby insure the safety of the wearer, and which belt may be instantaneously released from coupled relation when desired.

The invention has for an object the provision of a buckle consisting of frame parts between which one end of the belt is adapted to be trained for engagement by a pivotally mounted latch member adapted to engage with and retain the belt in coupled relation and which is released from coupled relation by relative separationof the said parts.

The invention has for a further object the provision of a buckle of said character in which the frame parts are normally retained in nested relation and the latch element is pivotally mounted for independent rocking movement into clamping engagement with the belt.

The invention also has for an object the provision of a buckle for a safety belt in which the frame parts of the buckle are pivotally connected together for movement from adjacent or nested relation to relative separated condition and in which the latch element is pivotally carried by one of the pivotal elements for rocking movement with one of the parts of the buckle to thereby free the belt from coupled relation when the parts are moved to separated condition.

With the foregoing and other objects in view reference is now made to the following specification and accompanying drawings in which the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated. i i

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a safety belt provided with a buckle constructed in accordance with the invention and illustrating the same in coupled relation as worn by an-occupant of aircraft and the like.

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the buckle in re leased position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken approximately on line 3-3 of Fig.1.

Fig. 4 is a similar view taken approximately on line 4--4 of Fig. 2 and illustrating the casing or cover of the buckle partly broken away.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the buckle with the casing or cover partly broken away to show the underlying parts.

i Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken approximately on line B6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of inner frame member with the cross shaft in juxtaposition thereto.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken a proximately on line 8--8of Fig. 6. i i if cover ll of hollow formation and an intermediate or channel shaped frame member H2. The intermediate frame member [2 is pivotally connected at its opposite ends on a cross shaft and cross pin l3 and I4 respectively to the inner and outer frame members If! and. II formovement of said outer and intermediateframe members from adjacent or nested relation with the inner frame member to an expanded or relative separated relation therewith. i

The free end A of a safety belt B is. trained through the buckle between the inner and intermediate frame members IG and I2 and is engaged bya latch element I5 for securing the belt in coupled relation when the frame members are in adjacent or nested relation and for releasing the belt from coupled relation by the movement of the frame members to expanded or relative separated relation.

The inner frame member H] is of channel shaped formation in cross-section consisting of a bottom wall I6 provided with oppositely disposed outwardly projecting side flanges l1. The wall H5 is formed with a transverse slot 13 ad jacent one end thereof through which the oppo+ site end C of the safety belt is trained and is doubled over to form a loop with the doubled over portion secured to the body of the belt. Adjacent the opposite end of the inner framememher, the side flanges I! thereof are formed with aligned hexagonal and circular apertures l9 and 20 respectively for receiving the cross shaft 43 with the hexagonal shaped head 2! thereof located in the hexagonal aperture l9. i 1

The latch element i5 is pivoted on the cross shaft I3 between apertured projecting ends 22 of side flanges 23 of the intermediate. frame member I2, through which apertured ends the crossshaft l3 extends to pivotally connect the intermediate and inner frame members Ptogether. The aperture 24 in one of said. projecting ends. 22 receives the shank 25 of the cross shaft l3 with the projecting end engaging against the inner face of the hexagonal head 2! thereof for retaining the head in the aperture H3 in the inner frame member. Theopposite end of said cross shaft I3 is provided with an annular recess in which is disposed a snap ring .26 for retaining the said parts. in assembled relation.

The intermediate frame member l2 extends longitudinally of the inner frame member If] and includes a bottom wall 21 having the side flanges 23 projecting outwardly at the opposite longitudinal edges thereof. The bottom-wall 21 extends beyond the flanges 23 at one end thereof and is pivotally connectedto the cover H by the cross pin l4 engaging through rolled terminals 28 formed on the bottom wall 2'! and on aflomfik t lflrive ted as ,at all to the inner face of the peripheral wall 31" onlth'e cover ll.

Spring means is provided for normally tensioning the cover 6 l and the intermediate frame member l2 against relative separation .whic n as illustrated may consist of one or morecoiled contractile springs 32 having opposite .ends 33 and 34 respectively connected .to the bracket 129 and to the bottom wall 21 of the intermediate frame member 12 to thereby dispose ,the axes of the springs at an angle to bottom wall 21. Arranged on the cross shaft I3 is a torsion spring "35 having its terminal ends 136 .and 11 secured in slots 33 ,and 9 respectivelyformed in the shank 2511f the cross shaft and .in :the ,boreAll of the latchel ement t5, which spring tensions the latch element for movement in ,the .direction of the arrows shown ,in gs. 3.and 4 of .thedrawings. fhe latch element ,is formedwith a projecting-Angeli which isspaced from .the bottom wall ,2] of the intermediate frame member l2 when the frame members are in .nested relation. When the cover member ,Li and the intermediate frame member i2 are moved voutwardly the bottom wall 23 engages with the lug M so as lto rock the latch element 15 against the tension of the torsion spring Constructed in this manner, theeover member H, vthe intermediate frame member i2 and the inner frame member iii are normally retained against relative separation andthe intermediate frame .member 2 andtheinner frame ,member H! are normally disposed in nested relation within the cover member.

JI-helatchelement i is formedwithafifilrated or toothed cam face ,dlonlthe inner periphery thereof which is cammed into gripping engagement with-the .belt end A by theltorsion spring 35. Adjacent said cam face the bottom wall .116 of the inner frame member it is offset as at tion with the inner framemember and the cover II as shown in Figsaz and 4 of the, drawings. .This movement effects the engagement ,of ,the

projecting lug i of latch with thebottom wall 21 of intermediate frame ,member 112 and rocks the latchelement lionthe cross,,shaft 13 so as to free thebelt end A. from..collp ,ed engagement with the bucklethe belt end Aremaining in unooupledrelation.so vlqmgas the cover I l is ,held in, relative separated, relation. :When the cover.- i Lisreleased .by the wearer the same together with-the intermediate frame momber l2 snaps back into. adiacentor. nestedrelation so that ,the latch ,element -55 ,will again igrippingly engage and hold thebelt-cnd ,A in coupled relation anddisengage from bottomwall '21 of intermediate framemember i?;.

:The peripherals wall :SI of l, the =cover I l is ,of generally arcuate formation and when: ingadjacent, or nested. relation with Y, the. intermediate and; inner framemembers the oppositeside walls the plane" "of "the 1 44 thereof extend inwardly in covering relation with the side flanges I! of the inner frame member.

It-will-be understoodtthat the torsion spring tensions the latch element I5 for rotation in .a clockwise direction as shown by the arrows in Figs. .3 and 4 so that the serrated cam face 42 is' rocked" into impinging relation against the face of the belt end A to thereby connect the belt in .coupled relation, and the only manner in which the same may be released is by outward movement of the cover member II and intermediate frame member I2 to effect a rocking of the latch member l5 in counter clockwise direction against the tension of the torsion spring 3 5. Furthermore the cam face 42 of the latch element I5 is so arranged that the ,tighter the pull on thebelt 13 about the bodyof the wearer the deeper the cam face 42 will be impinged in the belt end A.

Whenthe parts of the buckleare in nested relation and the belt is in coupled condition, the edge as of the cover l! and t e pintle mus- 's at .theopposite end of the cover are in contact with the belt end A. When, however the belt end A is withdrawn from the buckle, therim 16 of the inner frame member it is engaged by the peripheral wall 3| of thecover H.

What is claimed is: i

,1. Abuckle for a safety beltcomprising an inner frame member to which the belt is affixed, an outer cover member, an intermedi'ateiframe memberpivotally connected at one end tosaid inner frame member and at its opposite end to said cover membenfor movement of said covermemher and said intermediate frame memberfrom adjacent relation with theinner framemember to a relative separated relationsaid intermediate and inner frame members having superposed walls disposed in spaced relation for receiving theend of thebeltv therebetween, a latch member pivoted on the pivotal connection of the intermediateand inner frame members and having a serrated cam face adapted toengage against the/belt end for securing the belt in coupledrelation, spring means tensioning said cover and intermediate frame member for normally retaining the same tin adjacent relation, spring meanstensioning said latch member fornormally retaining'fhe same in engagement with thehbelt end, and said intermediate framemember'extending under a projecting portion of said'llatch member for engaging and rocking said latch member on its pivotal connection to release the belt end from coupled relation uponmove nent-of said cover and intermediate frame members ito relative separated relation, against the tension of said spring means. 1:

2. A buckle fora safety ,belt comprisin "an inner frame member to which the belt is affixed, an outer member, an intermediate frame member arrangedbetween the innerand outer members, said inner and intermediate frame, members having bottom walls and parallel sidewalls arranged with thebottom walls, disposed injspacedrelationland the side walls of. the intermediate frame member located between theside walls of .ithe inner frame member and adaptedzto receivelthe endof thev belt between thebottom walls thereof, a cross shaft mounted insaid side walls .pivotally connecting the inner and intermediate members together, a latch member pivotally mounted on said cross shaft and having a serratedcam face adaptedto impinge a'gainsti'ithe :76 belt end for securing thesame. betweenthe-latch member and the bottom wall of the inner frame member for connecting the belt in coupled relation, means sconnecting the outer member to move with the intermediate frame member, spring means tensioning said latch member for normally retaining the same in engagement with the belt and said intermediate frame member extending under a projecting portion of said latch member for engaging and rocking said latch member for releasing the belt from coupled relation against the action of said spring means upon swinging movement of the intermediate frame member on its pivotal connection.

3. A buckle for a safety belt comprising an inner frame member to which the belt is affixed, an outer frame member, an intermediate frame member arranged between the inner and outer frame members, said inner and intermediate frame members having bottom walls and parallel side walls arranged with the bottom walls disposed in spaced relation and with the side walls of the intermediate frame member located between the side walls of the inner frame member and adapted to receive the end of the belt between the bottom walls thereof, means extending through said side walls pivotally connecting the inner and intermediate members together, means pivotally connecting the opposite end of said intermediate frame member to said outer frame member for movement of said intermediate and outer frame members from adjacent relation with the inner frame member to relative separated relation, a latch member pivoted on the pivotal connection of the intermediate and inner frame members and having a serrated cam face adapted to impinge against the belt end for securing the same between the latch member and the bottom wall of the inner frame member for connecting the belt in coupled relation, spring means tensioning said outer and intermediate frame members for normally retaining the same in adjacent relation, spring means tensioning said latch member for normally retaining the same in engagement with the belt end, and said intermediate frame member extending under a projecting portion of said latch member for engaging and rocking said latch member on its pivotal connection to release the belt end from coupled relation upon movement of said outer and intermediate frame members to relative separated relation against the tension of said spring means.

4. A buckle for a safety belt comprising an outer cover member and a pair of channel shaped members nested one within the other and be tween which an end of the safety belt is adapted to engage to dispose said channel shaped members in overlying and underlying relation with the belt end, means pivotally connecting the cover member to said overlying channel shaped member at one end thereof and means pivotally connecting the opposite end of said overlying channel shaped member to said underlying channel shaped member for movement of said members from adjacent relation to a position in which the cover member and said overlying channel shaped member are disposed in angular relation to the underlying channel shaped member, a latch member pivotally mounted on the pivotal means connecting the channel shaped members for independent movement of said latch member, said latch member having a projecting portion extending over said overlying channel-shaped member and having a serrated cam face adapted to impinge against the belt end when trained between said nested frame members, and means tensioning said cover member and channel shaped members and said latch member for normally retaining the said cover member and channel shaped members in adjacent relation and the latch member in impinging relation with the belt end, said latch member being released from impinging relation with said belt end by engagement of said overlying channel shaped member therewith when the cover member and overlying channel shaped member are moved to relative angular relation with the underlying channel shaped member.

5. A buckle for a safety belt comprising an inner member, an outer member, an intermediate member pivoted at one end to said inner member and at its opposite end to said outer member for receiving an end of the belt between said inner and intermediate members, a latch member pivotally mounted on the pivotal connection between said intermediate and inner members for independent movement of said latch member, said latch member having a serrated cam face adapted to impinge said belt end against the inner member, spring means tensioning said inner, intermediate and outer members and said latch member for normally retaining said members in adjacent relation and the latch member in impinging engagement with the belt end, and said latch member having a projecting portion adapted to be engaged by said intermediate member for releasing the latch member from impinging engagement with the belt by relative movement of said outer and intermediate members with reference to the inner member.

6. A buckle for a safety belt comprising an inner member, an outer member, an intermediate member pivoted at one end to said inner member and at its opposite end to said outer member for receiving an end of the belt between said inner and intermediate members, a latch member pivotally mounted on the pivotal. connection between said intermediate and imier members for independent movement of said latch member, said latch member having a serrated cam face adapted to impinge said belt end against the inner member, spring means tensioning said outer member and intermediate member for normally retaining the same in adjacent relation, spring means tensioning said latch member for normally retaining the same in engagement with the belt end, and said latch member having a projecting portion adapted to be engaged by said intermediate member for releasing the latch member from impinging engagement with the belt by relative movement of said outer and intermediate members with reference to the inner member.

OWEN H. GRISWOLD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,086,090 Schroeder Feb. 3, 1914 1,440,339 Chabot Dec. 26, 1922 1,533,650 Jaso Apr, 14, 1925 2,327,741 Poole Aug, 24, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 203,943 Great Britain Sept, 20, 1923 704,864 France Feb, 24, 1931 

